JDubb's Sideline Report

The qualities of superstar athletes are usually in the form of their physical appearance and how well they do in their particular sport. They’re exceptional in what they do, showcasing their skills in front spectators in the crowd and in the living room. They are so popular that businesses profit from their name in merchandise- jersey’s, shirts, video games, and so much more. And then there are some that are really special; they tend to do things at a level that makes you look twice and say “did they just do that?”.

Here are some examples of greatness:

Doug Flutie’s hail mary against Miami in 1984. Calvin Johnson’s one-handed catch/grab against NC State in 2004. Tim Tebow’s “I promise” speech that inspired his team to win out after losing to Ole Miss in 2008. Tommy Frazier’s amazing 75-yard touchdown run in the title game in 1995. And Herschel running through Bill Bates in 1980.

Now we have the famous “2nd-and-26”, the miracle play that gave Alabama a comeback victory over Georgia in the 2018 National Championship game. The hero of the night was a young freshman by the name of Tua Tagovailoa. It truly was a miracle that Alabama came back to win that game, but to Tagovailoa, it was the effect of his prayer life.“All my anxiety and all my nerves calmed down,” Tua said in the AL.com video. “Nothing was too big for me. I think I was more focused on praying than anything else in the game.”

The young Samoan was raised in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, which is apart of the island of O’ahu. This is where he got his faith, learned to pray, and play every sport that he could. It’s where he was molded into the person he is today. “Faith, church, Christianity — it’s a very important part of the Samoan culture,” Diane Tagovailoa said. “Everything ends and starts with prayer, ends and starts with God.”

In High School, his teammates and coaches referred to him as “Reverend Tua”, as he was known for quoting scripture to inspire his teammates when they would be down in a game or volunteering to lead the team in prayer during practice or game time. Needless to say, Tua rubs off on people. You would be right to say he is cut from the same mold as Tim Tebow-not just because he’s a Christian, but how mature and wise the young quarterback is.

Andrew Bone, who has been covering Alabama recruiting for Rivals.com for the past 15 years, noticed this parallel, and, like Tebow, that there was something different about Tua. “I would say in terms of quarterbacks, probably the closest comparison — and I’m not saying their skill levels are the same — but in terms of their respect they have for other people, how humble they are, he was right up there with Tim Tebow,” Bone said. “And I think Tua is very similar to him in a lot of ways. Always very nice, very humble, and very respectful. You see that a lot, but there was always a different feeling with him than just about everybody else.”

His career at Alabama is nothing short of incredible. In three seasons, Tua threw for a total of 7,442 passing yards, 87 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions. Looking at those statistics, Tua is arguably the best quarterback to play for the Crimson Tide. On Saturday, November 16, 2019, Tua sustained a hip injury that required season-ending surgery. For Tua, it’s a bum deal because he still had goals for the season- beating Auburn, getting into the college football playoff, etc. However, football is just a platform for the young Samoan. He knows there’s something bigger for him, whether it be football, coaching, or preaching.

Most people would feel hopeless and in despair with such an injury, but not Tua. He looks at his current situation as his great opportunity. If this doesn’t inspire or encourage you, I’m not sure what would.

There have been many, many great players to play at the University of Alabama and more will come, however, I don’t believe there has ever been a superstar quite like Tua Tagovailoa. His legacy has been sealed and his future is in good hands.

I have never been one good with predictions, I’m just good at giving opinions- which is why I said before the season started that I predicted Alabama and Clemson to play each other for the national championship again. It just goes to show you that opinions are like kittens, people are always giving them away.

Alabama lost to LSU two weeks ago. It wasn’t a large margin(46-41) but it was a loss at home and to a very good LSU team. Since that has happened, Clemson has moved to the third spot, LSU is #1, and Georgia has jumped the Tide for the fourth spot. And things get even worse for Alabama- they have lost Tua Tagovailoa for the remainder of the season due to an apparent hip injury sustained in the game against Mississippi St over the weekend. This is not the scenario coach Saban would like to be in, but it is their current situation, regardless. I confess I didn’t forsee Alabama struggling to get into the playoff this season, on the contrary, I felt they would be a lock. This is a life lesson- never assume that a team is going to be undefeated and healthy at the end of the season. However, college football doesn’t revolve around Alabama, as those in Tuscaloosa would have you to believe it.

Your current top four teams:

1. LSU (10-0) – I don’t think there is a team in the country that has proved their position more than the Tigers. Here’s why they’re number 1: They defeated then #9 Texas, #7 Florida, #9 Auburn, and #3 Alabama. That’s a heck of a resume. Their performance in these games has been exceptional, averaging 40 points and getting outstanding Quarterback play from Heisman candidate Joe Burrow. My only gripe with LSU is that they don’t play consistently on the defensive side of the ball. They have playmakers, but they will need to clean that up if the Tigers are going to make it far in the postseason.
2. Ohio St.(10-0) – The Buckeyes are another team that has put themselves in a good position, and they have done so for most of the season. Their defense has not given up more than 21 points a game, and with the way Justin Fields has played this year, they have been one of the most complete teams in the country. The question is can they finish strong? Penn St, Michigan, and the championship games will tell us what they’re all about.
3. Clemson (11-0) – Clemson has been the Rodney Dangerfield of college football- no respect all year. I understand their frustration. They have dominated every team they have played, minus North Carolina. That was a game they could have lost. However, if there is anything I have learned about Dabo’s Tigers, is that they always have one game where they slip up and then rebound with an attitude. It’s true that the ACC has been down this season, but the Tigers are a great football team, and no matter what conference they could play in, they’re of the elite.
4. Georgia (9-1) – After losing to South Carolina, the Bulldogs have been a team on the rebound, winning four straight, and now have clinched the SEC East after defeating Auburn last Saturday. Good defensive play and strong outings by junior Quarterback Jake Fromm has kept Georgia in the mix, and if they can somehow beat LSU in the SEC Championship Game, they will be a shoo-in for the four-team playoff.

So that’s where we are currently. I’m not going to give you any more predictions. I have blown my cover on that front and now there is egg on my face. I will say this, and I feel strongly about this- THESE FOUR TEAMS WILL NOT BE IN THE SAME SPOT AT THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON….Oops, I did it again 😉

 

And just like that, we’re in the final month of the regular season in college football. Yes, it’s the one sport that takes forever to start and in no time, it’s over– which is why I try to pay close attention to all the big games, every week. Thank God for DVR! With that said, let’s talk about the first College Football Playoff poll that was revealed last night.

Here is your top four:

1. Ohio St. – The Buckeyes have obviously caught a lot of folks’ attention, not in just their record, but on how they have won. The Buckeyes have outscored their opponents 386 to 63! Justin Fields’ presence has been a big contributor to their recent success, but the Buckeye defense has been really physical too. This is a very good football team but they haven’t really been tested. They will in two weeks when they take on Penn St.
2. LSU – What a difference a year makes for the Bayo Bangels. Last season, the Tigers were averaging right around 30 points a game. This season, they’re averaging right around 45 a game. The hiring of Joe Brady from the New Orleans Saints and giving him the reigns to the passing game has paid dividends for LSU. They look like a Big XII team out there, but with an actual defense.
3. Alabama – The Tide have been on cruise control since the Duke game, but they’re about to play the game of the year when LSU comes to town. If Tua can stay healthy, the tides chances are always good. The question is can he stay healthy for the remainder of the season?
4. Penn St. – The Nittany Lions are undefeated for one reason- they’re a very physical football team. They don’t really dominate teams, but they hit you in the mouth. The wins against Pitt, Iowa, Michigan, and Michigan State have really caught the playoff committee’s eye, and if they can somehow defeat Ohio St on the road, they will be sitting really good. But first, they have to beat an undefeated Minnesota team this weekend.

And here’s the rest of the top 10:

5. Clemson – The Tigers keep winning on the field but they keep dropping in the polls. However, unless something drastic happens-like Trevor getting hurt, I don’t foresee a scenario where Clemson is left out of the playoffs. They’re outside because they’re really the only team in the ACC that’s worth anything this season. Yes, they play two SEC schools this season, but a&m and the gamecocks aren’t killing it on the field. And that UNC game didn’t help matters. Just keep winning and you will be fine.

6. Georgia – The Bulldogs have two top ten wins, but the Sout Carolina loss at home is the asterisk that has kept them from perfection. They still control their destiny, but the margin of error is slim. November is going to be a crucial month for coach Smart and his Georgia squad.

7. Oregon – The Ducks are the cream of the Pac-12 crop this season. The early loss to Auburn could have buried this team, but the Ducks have won eight straight since then, including wins over Washington, USC, and Colorado. Led by Quarterback Justin Herbert, the ducks are flying high and look to finish strong in November.

8. Utah – The Utes have the best run defense in the country, giving up 56 yards a game. They play like a sec team on defense but play like an ACC team on offense, which isn’t a bad thing. I just don’t know if it’s enough to get in the playoff or win the Pac-12 no less. They got three games left, all should be winnable, but they will play Oregon in the conference championship game, and the Ducks can score points.

9. Oklahoma – I was on the boomer sooner wagon(no pun attended) until they lost to Kansas State, which seems to be the universal feeling right now towards the Sooners. They are good, but there are some obvious issues on defense-still! They have played better on that side of the ball, but they dropped a big goose egg last week against the Wildcats. The Sooners are going to have to be perfect the rest of the season and also get a little help to get in the playoffs.

10. Florida – The Gators were rocking early this season, with wins over Miami, Kentucky, and Auburn. Even after losing to LSU, they still were considered a legit playoff contender. However, they haven’t figured out how to beat Georgia since Kirby took over. That game will continue to make a season as long as the gators and dogs are competing for the the SEC East every year. Getting into the playoffs is a longshot for the gators, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have a good season, it’s just not going to be great.

It’s that time of the year again; no, I’m not talking about Columbas Day sales at JC Penny. It’s time for one of the oldest, time-honored traditions of college football: The Red River Shootout. If you love college football (like yours truly) then this game is a must-watch, even if you’re not a sooner or longhorn fan. It’s got everything you would want in a rivalry game- First, the game is played in a “neutral” site- The cotton bowl. Second, the stadium is sold out every year, with half of the stadium filled with burgundy and the other half burnt orange. And if you get bored(not sure how this game would bore you) or want a quick snack before the game,  you have the Texas state fair going on, where you can stuff your face full of fried snickers until you’re in a diabetic coma! It’s a win-win for the average college football junkie. But enough about the pomp and circumstance, let’s get down to business.

This Saturday will mark the 115th meeting between #11 Texas and #6 Oklahoma. This rivalry has created legends, ended championship hopes, and has had some dramatic finishes. Last season, Kyler Murray and his Sooners were down 45-28 with 13:00 minutes left in the game but started a comeback on three back-back-back scoring drives to tie the game 45-45. With the game getting away from the horns, Sam Ehlinger mounted a 40-yard drive to set up a field goal with 14 seconds left for true freshman Cameron Dicker. The young kicker accepted the call and split the uprights to secure the win for the Longhorns, who went onto play for the Big XII title and later win the Sugar Bowl against Georgia.

The 2019 edition is shaping up to be a ‘humdinger”. Let’s take a look at the teams.

Oklahoma has become the home for transfer quarterbacks as of late. Jalen Hurts, former Alabama quarterback, transferred to Norman at the end of the 2018 season and has really made the Sooners one of the most prolific offenses in the nation. So far this season, Hurts has accounted for 1,523 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and only 2 interceptions. The addition of Hurts has helped the Sooners improve their offensive statistics, but we all know Oklahoma can score. That side of the ball hasn’t been an issue for them; where the Sooners need to see improvement is on defense. Last year the Sooners ranked 114th in total defense- worst in school history. They ranked 129 (dead last) in passing yards allowed -Ouch! Head coach Lincoln Riley had to make a change. He went out and hired Alex Grinch, former Ohio State safties/co-defensive coordinator to take the defensive coordinator position. So far, the results are good. Through five games, the Sooners rank 5th in third-down defense, allowing conversions on only 24.6 percent of attempts.

The Texas Longhorns have looked good on offense themselves, scoring 209 points through five games. Junior Quarterback, Sam Ehlinger, has thrown for 1,448 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only two interceptions. Like Jalen, Ehlinger is a prototypical dual-threat, Quarterback. He can beat you with his arm or gas you with his legs. He has rushed for 236 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. He has been the key to the Longhorns recent success under head coach Tom Herman. On the flip side, the Longhorns are seeing signs of life on the defensive side of the ball. Texas strength is on the d-line, where it averages around 320 lbs. The Longhorns also rank ninth in fourth-down defense and second in the Big 12 in total defense. They will need to get pressure on Jalen Hurts and make some stops to give the horns a chance in this game.

I know what you’re thinking, “Big XII play defense? Get out of here!”. Hey, I get it, but let’s be real. If the two best teams in the conference want to win something besides a new years day bowl, they need to get better in this department. Texas gave up 570 total yards to LSU! That’s not good! You’re not going to win a national title giving up that many yards. But for this game, something has got to give.

Regardless of the teams’ defensive struggles, this Saturday is about them. It’s about who wants the golden hat more? It’s about who wants bragging rights for the next year? Who wants to keep the momentum for the rest of the season and make it into the playoff? We’re going to find out this Saturday.

It’s the Texas State Fair

It’s the Cotton Bowl

It’s burgundy vs. burnt orange.

It’s Texas vs. Oklahoma!

It’s on FOX this Saturday at Noon. 

 

I’ve seen some pretty epic fights in my life: Godzilla vs. King Kong, Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior, Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson, and Trump vs. Hillary. All of those fights lived up to their epic billing and now and a new contest is on the horizon, and baby, it could be legendary- #7 Florida vs. #5 LSU. 

Florida and LSU both have had some impressive wins and some close calls this season. The Tigers had an early test when they traveled to Austin, Texas to take on the Longhorns in a game where Joe Burrow connected to three different receivers for 471 yards and 4 touchdowns. Burrowed put on a Heisman worthy performance on that hot September night, leading his team to a nice win and a style win for the playoff committee.  Florida’s path so far has been a little different. The gators seem to like to play close to the fire, nearly escaping from the jaws of defeat against Miami and Kentucky. Those were two games they could have easily lost but fought back and won, and despite some adversity, like losing their starting quarterback and some other injuries, the gators are on a roll. Kyle Trask has come in and done a marvelous job as quarterback for Florida, throwing for 881 yards, seven touchdowns, and only two interceptions so far this season.  He did suffer a MCL sprain against Auburn but should be ok to play against LSU.

You like history? This series has had some serious highlights:

1989: College football’s first “overtime” game

This game was jokingly referred to as an “overtime” game in Steve Harvey’s nationally syndicated “Bottom Ten” column. After LSU hit a field goal to tie it at 13 with 1:19 left, Florida drove from their 20 to LSU’s 27. Emmitt Smith was tackled at the LSU 24 inbounds with 18 seconds left. Florida scrambled to get back to the line of scrimmage to snap the ball, which they did with 3 seconds left. Kyle Morris managed to throw it out of bounds with 1 second left, but the clock still ran out, almost exactly like what happened at the end of the 2009 Big 12 Championship Game between #3 Texas and #22 Nebraska. Fireworks were set off over Tiger Stadium in celebration for holding off a late Gator comeback, even though it was right as Florida was sending its special teams unit onto the field. The second was added back to the clock, allowing Arden Czyzewski to attempt, and hit, a 41-yard field goal as time expired to win it 16–13. The unexpected setback sent LSU into a losing streak and its first losing season since they went 4–7 as well in 1983. The manner in which LSU lost the game helped push them into the top spot of that week’s Bottom Ten.

1997: LSU’s revenge

The previous season, the Gators won the national championship and thrashed LSU 56–13, and they came into the game favored. But it was LSU who jumped out to a big early lead, scoring two touchdowns in the first 8 minutes on runs by Herb Tyler and Tommy Banks. The Gators came right back with two touchdown runs by Fred Taylor, each of which capped off an 80-yard drive.

Then, Doug Johnson threw an ill-advised pass, and Cedric Donaldson picked it off and returned it for a touchdown to give LSU a 21–14 lead. The Gators’ frustration mounted when another Johnson pass was picked off, this time by Mark Roman, and when Herb Tyler scored another touchdown to give LSU a 28–14 lead with 11:40 to go, the Gators appeared to be in big trouble.

Undaunted, Johnson responded with a 13-play, 78-yard drive that ended with Fred Taylor getting into the end zone to make it 28–21. LSU did nothing with their next possession, and Doug Johnson began moving the ball downfield again. He then faced a rush on a third and two and threw up a Hail Mary which was intercepted by Raion Hill. The Tigers held on for the 28–21 upset. Kevin Faulk appeared on the next week’s cover of Sports Illustrated.

2003: LSU’s only loss

The beleaguered Gators, under second year coach Ron Zook, took on #6 LSU and Nick Saban with freshman Chris Leak making his third start at quarterback for Florida.

The Gators were off to their worst start since 1979, with a 3–3 record to begin the year. The previous week, Florida lost to Ole Miss at home and Coach Ron Zook was already on the hot seat. However, Florida’s freshman quarterback Chris Leak would help the Gators turn their season around. Leak shrugged off six sacks, the Tiger Stadium noise and a pressing defense to lead the Gators to a 19–7 victory over LSU with two separate touchdown passes to running backs Ran Carthon and Ciatrick Fason out of the backfield. Florida also got a massive game out of their defense, including cornerback Keiwan Ratliff, who had two interceptions and shut LSU down. This shocking loss in Death Valley would be the Tigers’ only defeat of the season, as Nick Saban would go on to win his first BCS National Championship and his only title with LSU.

2006: Tebow’s series debut

The 9th ranked Tigers visited the 5th ranked Gators favored by a point and a half. Early in the first quarter, JaMarcus Russell connected with Jacob Hester for a touchdown.

However, Florida’s freshman quarterback Tim Tebow would help the Gators turn the tide. While the Gators’ starting QB was senior Chris Leak, coach Urban Meyer had been rotating Tebow, a highly touted recruit, into the huddle for a few series every game. Tebow made the most of his opportunities against LSU, accounting for three touchdowns, including his first career passing touchdown on “the jump pass” to tight end Tate Casey. The Gators won 23–10 and went on to win the BCS National Championship.

Wes’s keys to the game: 

Florida – establish the run. Lamical Perine and Dameon Pierce have been a two-headed monster for the gators and they both need to be on fire so Trask can keep the defense off of him. On defense, get after Burrow. Don’t let him get settled or he will pick the gator D apart.

LSU– Special teams. This is going to be a game of inches so you need your kicker to be lights out.

Offense- Protect Burrow so he can do what he does best- finding open receivers.

The 2019 edition is in prime time and in Tiger Stadium. This is one of the loudest venues in all of college football and you better believe it will be cranking when these two go at it this Saturday night at 8 PM on CBS.

It’s not a new idea- paying college kids for their time outside the classroom has been a hot topic for a long time.  Now it looks like it will be a reality. Starting in January of 2023, student-athletes in the state of California can receive compensation for their likeness/name from businesses/sponsors. What does that mean? First, let me tell you what it doesn’t mean: it doesn’t mean student-athletes (all of them) will receive money to play amateur sports. It DOES mean that John Doe can receive benefits from companies, businesses, sponsors, etc. who want to profit from their name. For example, remember the NCAA football video game for PlayStation and Xbox? Even though players’ names were not in the game, their number and likeness were used every year by the company EA Sports. After many years of publishing this title, some student-athletes from Northwestern University decided to sue EA Sports for using their name without their consent and compensation. And guess what? They won the case and EA Sports hasn’t made the game since 2014. Now that California has made this a bill(and it has passed), it’s going to favor many schools in the state to win some recruiting battles over schools in different states that currently do not have this advantage.

Let me ask you this- Do you really think California will be the only state to do this? This is a pandora’s box type of scenario. The writing is already on the wall. Other states across the country are already taking notice of this bill and are currently creating their own versions to propose to state senates. Don’t be surprised if this bill goes to Washington. Honestly, it’s probably for the best instead of each state. This way there is a set, federal standard for schools.

I do have concerns. First off, this bill shows no limit on how much an amateur athlete can make. They could make millions if they get with the right person or company. Picture this scenario; you turn on your tv and see Justin Fields in a commercial for a new model Lexus. You and I both know he will be bringing in some serious cheddar. This brings me to another issue- what about his supporting cast? What about the other players for Ohio State who aren’t getting these sponsors and making bank like Fields? You don’t think they will become a little jealous? Of course, they are! “yea, here comes Lexus Fields ready to take the field”. The resent will be real and that’s a problem if you’re a head coach. The last thing you need is for your teammates jealous or mad at other players. Lastly, and this is very important and dear to me- I just don’t believe when these players start getting these sponsors that they will give it there all on the field. It will take some really high-character individuals to stay humble and level headed. I really do hope I’m wrong.

This is my point- these kids get a full ride to play division one football, in front of a national and even global audience. They get stipends for food, travel, and room and board. Could they use some more? Without question. Being a student-athlete is incredibly rigorous: schoolwork, homework, practice, film study, strength training, etc. Those all come with the role of a student-athlete and that to me makes them special, really superhero types of individuals. However, if you give them money because of their names being used outside an institution, you’re just creating a new pro league, just without the day time drama. There’s a reason why I love college football more than any other sport- the kids play their hearts out. The majority of them know that the four years they play will be the only time they get to do it. The few of the elite will get to showcase their skills on Sunday’s in the future WHERE THEY WILL GET PAID, handsomely.

Keep the amateurs on Saturday’s and leave the professionals on Sunday’s. Otherwise, it will destroy any amount of fun I have watching football on Saturdays in the Fall.

The great thing about college football in Septemeber is that you get quality football come to your television. Let me explain- you usually don’t get marquee matchups until late in the season, like rivalry week, or even when the bowls begin. However, sometimes you get years were the main course comes out before the appetizer. This past Saturday night we got the main course- Notre Dame vs. Georgia. If you remember, these two teams played each other two years ago in South Bend where the bulldogs pulled out the win with help from their “second string quaterback”- Jake Fromm. That game was Fromm’s coming out party. Fromm has been one of the most accurate quarterbacks in college football the past two seasons. Don’t believe me? Ok, check these stats out:

2017- 181/291 CMP/ATT, 62.2 CMP%, 2615 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 INT’s.

2018- 206/306 CMP/ATT, 67.3 %, 2749 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 6 INT’s.

So far in 2019, he is on pace to throw of ver 3,000 yards. This is remarkable, but to do it in the toughest league in college football is even more an accomplishment. Notre Dame on the otherhand, who was called out before this game that they were too soft and didn’t have the man power to go toe-to-toe with the bulldogs, held their own throughoput the game. The irish lost the game because they could not establish any kind of ground game. The bulldogs seemed to slow them down in the third quarter. They also had penalities throughout the game that seemed to be elementary but cost them on many drives. Even though Notre Dame lost, they gained a ton of respect in the football community, and if they can win out, maybe the luck of the irish can play them into the playoffs. The bulldogs on the other hand control their own fate- just keep on winning.

Another team I was impressed with on Saturday were the Auburn Tigers. This team didn’t have the biggest off-season or was predicted to finish high in 2019 but they sure have found a quarterback in true freshman Bo Nix.  So far Nix has thrown for 645 yards in four games, a long with five touchdown passes. He’s a dual-threat, perfect for the Gus-Bus system down on the plains. Now he’s got his team to a 4-0 start but the gauntlet is about to begin:

Miss St, Florida, Arkansas, and LSU are their next four games. If they can somehow come out if those four games with a W, they will be sitting pretty towards the end of the season until they play Georgia and Alabama. Those will be two games that will decide if the Tigers are truly ready for the playoff.

Lastly, I wanted to mention Ohio St. The buckeyes have played four games and  have scored a total of 214 points! Last week alone, the team scored six touchdowns in one quarter. Georgia transfer, Justin Fields is dominating the opposition with his athleticism and his golden arm.  This week the travel to Lincoln, Nebraska to take on the cornhuskers in a early B1G matchup. Nebraska isn’t quite there yet while they are currently in rebuild mode with second-year coach, Scott Frost. The buckeyes true test will come on October 26, when they take on Wisconsin.

Septemeber is almost over but we’re starting to get some clarity over the haves and have nots of college football- and remember, it can change on a dime.

 

There are only a few schools in the nation that consistently get great football players every year strictly because of their name- Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio St., Michigan, and USC. Why is that? Because of their tradition, history of players and coaches, and their great legacies. For example, when people think of Notre Dame, they usually think of Rudy, or “Play like a Champion Today”, or “Touchdown Jesus”. Or when people think of Alabama, they think of “The Bear”, or “Roll Tide”, or even “Hollywood Joe Namath”. People know the schools because of a player, a coach, a fight song, or sometimes even a certain game that was legendary. USC is also one of those schools.

The men of Troy have a long history of greatness and have produced national champions and Heisman winners for a very long time. Players like Marcus Allen, O.J. Simpson, Lynn Swann, Junio Seau, Reggie Bush, and Ronnie Lott are just a few of the greats that left their mark at SC.

Califonia produces some of the best football players in the nation, and most of them usually stay home. However, the climate has changed out west. After Pete Carrol left for the NFL, USC has had a hard time replicating the greatness they once were. Lane Kiffin was a hotshot, young and upcoming head coach, but he wasn’t ready for USC. Yea, he can recruit and is a terrific play-caller, but his arrogance and childish attitude were destructive. He was not a good leader on or off the field, which rubbed off on his players. In short, he still has a lot of growing up to do. Then comes Steve Sarkisian, another up and coming coach he at the time was one of the best play-callers in the nation and got Washington back on its feet. However, he too had a lot of growing up to do and was fired after two seasons.

In 2015, USC promoted Clay Helton to head coach, after running the offense for the Trojans as OC.  In 2016 his team went 10-3, beating Notre Dame at the end of the regular season and capping it off with a Rose Bowl victory over Penn State. In 2017, his team went 11-3, winning the Pac-12 and playing in the Cotton Bowl. However, in 2018 the Trojans took a step back, going  5-7 and missing a bowl game for the first time since 2000 which was their last losing season.  This doesn’t sit well in Trojan land. Expectations are National Championships, Rose Bowls, and Pac-12 titles. So what will it take for coach Helton to turn it around? Change his offense.

Helton has hired Graham Harrell (North Texas), a disciple of the Air Raid offense. This offense is a pass-heavy machine that stretches the field and lets your skill players flourish.

“It’s not an ‘Air Raid,’” Helton insists. “It’s really the availability to attack every inch of the field.” “The one thing I felt like I needed to get accomplished,” he says, “was to create a simpler offense that used every person in our system.”

With this offense, USC has the potential to be an instant success and resemble other traditional powers like Alabama and Oklahoma who are thriving right now using spread passing and power running to defeat their opponents.

The Trojans are picked to finish second in the Pac-12 south, which is probably right where you would imagine. With 11 starters returning, including Sophmore Quarterback J.T. Daniels, this should be a much improved season for USC and Clay Helton. While the coach is focusing on game 1, the fans are focusing on winning it all, if not, they will move on and so will Clay Helton.

The game of football is a grind, full of blood, sweat, and a lot of muscle. A game only lasts for three hours on Saturday’s, but the real work is done behind the scenes. Head coaches only get a to be with the players for a short amount of time during the spring and summer, so there’s only one coach who can be with them consistently during the “dead-period”: that’s the strength coach.

Strength coaches are more than just another assistant coach. They are the main source of motivation for these young men. Their goal is to make the players stronger, faster, and leaner. To do this, the strength coach has a schedule laid out(per NCAA rules) that combines aerobic and anaerobic exercises to make the players into warriors. Their job is to challenge each player to give it all they got in the weight room, so they can do the same on the football field. This includes pushing their bodies to the limit, lifting to failure, and running until they can’t even crawl.

Scott Cochran, the strength coach the Crimson Tide football team, is one of most recognized strength coaches in college football.  Outside three years in the NBA, Cochran has been with coach Saban for almost seventeen seasons(LSU and Alabama). The type of football players Alabama get are some of the best players coming out of high school, so the body of work is usually already in good shape, they just need to get bigger, faster, and stronger. One way Cochran put’s it, ” you’re a Bentley right now, I’m just going to put spinners on that thing.” In other words, he is going to take them from -and pardon my cartoon reference- prince Adam to He-Man!

Cochran is probably the loudest coach on Saban’s staff. In the spring and summer, you can find Cochran yelling and screaming at several locations on campus: you can find him yelling in the gym, screaming on the practice field, and running the steps with the team at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Later, you can find his players looking down at what they had for breakfast after completing an intense workout. The 4th Quarter program coach Saban started, is implemented in the workouts for his team and you better believe Cochran is taking every step to make sure it’s followed through.

Twelve seasons and five national titles later, coach Scott Cochran is worth every bit of the $585,000 he is paid. He is the X-factor for coach Saban’s team. What Cochran does with the football team is that he teaches them to complete every workout til failure, which in turn not only grow more muscle but teaches the players to push through fatigue and surrender. This is why Alabama is so good. It’s not just coach Saban’s constant demand for perfection, it’s what takes place in the off-season. Every drop of sweat that takes place inside the gym, the practice field, and stadium steps, are building champions on and off the field. The glory and fame that come with the game cost an enormous price, which is why the strength coach is so highly desired.

 

While the offseason in college football has been quiet, it has had it’s spurts of interruptions, especially in the Quarterback position. There are four specific quarterbacks that have created many conversations/controversies that need to be addressed so that we have more clarity to understand the who, what, and why of their move to a new school. Transferring to another school is not a big deal usually, but these four individuals could help their new teams get into the playoff if the stars align properly.

Transfer 1 – Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma)

Mr. Hurts only has one year of eligibility, so he decided to play somewhere that could help him improve his skills as a quarterback while helping a team win a championship. The Sooners couldn’t have asked for a better transfer. Jalen has a National Championship and an SEC championship with Alabama, so he knows how to win. Now, Lincoln Riley has gone on record to say that this job will not be given to Hurts, he will have to earn it. However, don’t be shocked if he does get the starting nod. Why would you bench someone with his credentials and leadership? Nah, that’s not happening. It’s all coach speak.

Transfer 2 – Jacob Eason (Washington)

This is a move that just makes sense. Eason started for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2016 but got hurt in the first game of the season in 2017. While his recovery was coming along good, his backup was too-Jake Fromm. Knowing he would probably not see much playing time in the future down in Athens, Eason decided to head back home, to the pacific northwest and play for the Washington Huskies. I can’t say that I blame him. Athens, Georgia is far from home so its natural young Eason got homesick. Eason has the size and arm to play in the NFL, and with a few years at Washington, he could even help haul in a Pac-12 championship or more.

 

Transfer 3 – Justin Fields (Ohio St.)

From Kennesaw, Georgia to Columbus Ohio, Justin Fields has been a busy young man the past two years. The former #2 player coming out of high school originally committed to Penn State to play for James Franklin. However, the temptation to stay close to home and play for the home state bulldogs was just too good to pass up. Fields was not stirred away from the competition by the likes of Jake Fromm, but he just couldn’t get the playbook down and stay behind the All-American Fromm on the depth chart. Justin saw the writing on the wall and headed to Columbus to play for Coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. Just like Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma, Fields is going to have to win the job..but again, it should not be too hard considering the other two quarterbacks on the depth chart are not nearly as talented as Fields. The job is his to lose.

 

Transfer four – Tate Martell (Miami)

Martell is an interesting prospect for Miami. The young dual-threat spent the last two seasons at Ohio St., backing up Dwayne Haskins and J.T. Barrett. Hoping his time to shine would eventually come, he thought 2019 would be his year in Columbus. However, Urban Meyer stepped down at the end of the season and Justin Fields transferred to play for the bucks, putting Martell in an awkward spot. Seeing that Fields would be tough competition to beat out, Martell transferred to the University of Miami to play for first-year head coach Manny Diaz. Martell has been hyped up since transferring but his Spring was very lackluster. He has a lot of work to do if he’s going to win the job and we all know how patient Miami fans are. Good luck Martell.